The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-04-28
Mrs. ShOddy. OF Boston.

A Mrs. Shoddy, of Boston, for even
in Boston specimens of this kind exist,
was discoursing the other evening
upon the sale of the Stewart pictures
in New York, writes a correspondent
of The Providence Journal.
Il thought of gong on she said
Ito buy some of the paintings, but ]
really have more pictures than | know
what to do with. OF course there
were fine things in the Stewart sale,
but my own paintings, | may say, are
are really metricious-at least l bought
them as such-and so l concluded not
to compete with New York collectors.
The dear old dowager would be as
tonished if she knew how true her re-
mark was, little as she understood the
true significance of her epithet. A
good story is told of the way in which
she bought some of her ''metricious"
pictures. Several years ago she went
abroad and took with her a specimen
of the paper of her drawing groom, in
order that she might buy pictures to
harmonize-or, as she said, to match.
An American artist in Paris wrote
home IN account Of her visit to the
studio to French artist of distinction.
/ he lady arrived one morning by APP
pointment armed with her specimen
of wall paper and stated that the arch
itect OF her house had told her
to purcha Sc a picture of given size for
certain space in her drawing-room.
The artist had 10 pictures of these d.
mansions, but he was clever enough to
understand the sort of woman he was
dealing with and INSCRIPTIONS enough
TO take advantage of her.
This canvas" he said. showing her
painting he wished to sell, isn't the
same measure you want, because we
have the metric system in France, and
Of course that is different; but it is that
measure translated into our system.
1t is the nearest thing you can get in
this country
The picture was half as large again
rs she had asked for, but she received
this explanation in perfect good faith,
and proceeded to investigate the har-
nony of paper and p cture. The oblig-
ing painter arranged the wall pa per
behind the canvas, and walked away
and casped his hands in admiration.
'Ah, madame he said with dra-
| matte RI. ''you Americans are such
nation. | have searched Paris for
proper background for this picture and
| have not been able to find it; and here
| you bring me precisely the color of
| which have dreamed. If | had that
paper l would not sell you the picture
at all. but now you must have it if l
| give it to you."
And he did give it to her-in ex-
change for $1,000
| At another studio she was less sue
| cessful. She had been told whose pic
lures she ought to buy, and applied
boldly to the leading painters of Paris.
| The second artist whom she saw, how
ever treated her with what she feeling
~ describes as outrageous brutality.
When she produced her specimens of
of wallpaper, the old man brusquely
interrupted her setting forth of her
wishes.
| 1T is of no use, madam" he sa d
with great atfectation of regret and
| earnestness. Il never sell a pi cture
on so slight grounds as mere harmony
with the paper hanging. So much de-
ponds upon the light that never risk
my reputation without examining the
room in which the painting is to hang.
Did you bring your house with you?
If you didn't, l fear it is impossible for
us to come to an arrangement.
Of course one could not be sure of
the truth of these stories unless he had
made them up but they certainly have
the appearance OF being too absur d not
TO nave some grains of verify in them.